Car wheel grinding machine



April 6, 1943. c. G. FLYGARE ETAL 2,316,058

CAR WHEEL GRINDINGMACHINE Filed March 18, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet l EHRL EFLYEHHE HERBERTH 5/L.VE/\/ April 6, 1943. c. G; FLYGARE ET AL 2,316,058

I CAR WHEEL GRINDING MACHINE Filed March 18, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2flwuc-nfow V EHHL EFL YEHE'E HEREE'Fr TH 5/1. VEN

April 1943- c. G. IELYGARE ETAL 2,316,058

CAR WHEEL GRINDING MACHINE Filed March 18, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 CF/R1.EFL YEHRE HERBERTH 5/1.. VEN

Wm.wn W

Patented Apr. 6, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE can WHEEL camnmcMACHINE barl G. Flygare and Herbert A. Silven, Worcester, Mass.,assignors to Norton Company, Worcester, Mass., a corporation ofMassachusetts Application March 18, 1942, Serial No. 435,214

6 Claims.

The invention relates to grinding machines, and more particularly to agauging device for a car wheel grinding machine.

One object of the invention is to provide a double head grinding machinewith a visible indicating type gauging apparatus whereby two spacedportions of a work piece may be readily ground to the same diameters.Another object of the invention is to provide a double head car wheelgrinding machine with a visible type gaug-- ing apparatus. Anotherobject of the invention is to provide an electrically actuated visiblefied in the structure to be hereinafter described,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the car wheel grindingmachine, on a slightly reduced scale;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view, on an enlarged scale, takenapproximately on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view, on an enlarged scale,taken approximately on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through theright-hand end thrust member, as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary end elevation,- partly in section, on anenlarged scale, taken approximately on the line 68 of Fig. 1, showingone of the visible gauging units and the electric wiring diagramtherefor;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale, takenapproximately on the line 'I-l of Fig. 6; and i v Fig. 8. is afragmentary sectional view taken approximately on the line 8-8 of Fig-6,showing the. contour gauging device.

A car wheel grinding machine has been illustrated in the drawings,comprising a base II which serves as a support for a pair of spacedrotatable grinding wheels H and I2 which are mounted upon wheel slidesl3 and I4, respectively. An electric motor I5 is mounted on the uppersurface of the wheel slide [3 and is provided with a multiple V-groovepulley l6 which is connected by multiple V-belts II with a multipleV-groove pulley i8 mounted on the left-hand end of a rotatable wheelspindle IS. The wheel spindle I9 supports the grinding wheel ll at itsright-hand end (Fig. 1).

Similarly, an electric motor 20 is mounted on the upper surface of thewheel slidle I4. The motor 20 is provided with a multiple V-groovepulley 2| which is connected by multiple V-belts 22 with a multipleV-groove pulley 23 whch is mounted on the right-hand end of a rotatablewheel spindle 24 the otherend of which supports the grindingwheel 12.The wheel spindles i9 and 24 are joumalled in suitable bearings (not.

shown) vmounted inthe wheel slides l3 and I4,

' respectively.

A manually 'operable; traversing mechanism is provided, including arotatable hand wheel 25 which is connected to actuate a nut and screwmechanism.'(not shown) to traverse the wheel slide i3 longitudinally toproduce a relative longitudinal movement between the grinding wheel Hand the work piece to be ground.

A manually operable feeding mechanism is provided comprising -arotatable hand wheel 25 which is operativelyconnected to actuate a nutand feed screw mechanism (not shown) which are arranged to feed thewheel slide [3 and grinding wheel ll transversely to, feed the wheeltoward or from the axis of the workpiece to be ground as desired. a v aSimilarly, a manually operable hand wheel 21 is operatively connected toactuate a nut and screw mechanism (not shown) to traverse the wheelslide l4 longitudinally to impart a relative longitudinal movement tothe grinding wheel l2 to traverse it longitudinally relative to the workpiece to be ground. A manually operable feed wheel I28 is operatlvelyconnected to a nut and screw mechanism (not shown) which are arranged-toimpart a transverse feeding movement to the wheelslide l4 and grindingwheel l2 .to

move the same toward and from the work axis so as to produce the desiredgrinding action;

The grinding wheel traversing and feeding mechanism for the wheel slidesl3 and 14 have not been illustrated in detail since they are notconsidered to be a part of the present invention. These mechanisms maybe substantially iden-.-

a car Wheel axle 30 having a pair of spaced car wheels 3| and 32 fixedlymounted thereon for a grinding operation. The work driving andsupporting mechanism, as shown inplan view in Fig. 1, is substantiallyidentical with that shown in the prior U. S. patent to C- H. Norton andCarl G. Flygare, No. 1,948,866 dated February 2'7, 1934, to whichreference may be had for details of disclosure not contained herein.

The car axle assembly, comprising the axle 30 having the two spaced carwheels 3| and 32 fixedly mounted thereon, is provided with outwardlyextending journals 33 and 34 and is mounted for rotation on spaced worksupporting members so that the periphery of the car wheels 3| and 32 maybe ground as desired. As illustrated in the drawings, the worksupporting members comprise a pair of spaced V-shaped members 35 and 36which are supported in vertically adjustable brackets 3'! and 38 on thebase |0.

In order that the V-shaped bearing surfaces may be aligned with thesurface being supported, the V-shaped supports ,35 and 36 are preferablypivotally mounted by means of trunnion l5 and H6 to the verticallyadjustable members 31 and 38, respectively. It will be readily apparentfrom the foregoing disclosure that when the car wheel assembly is placedin the machine, the journals 33 and 34 engaging the V-block supports 35and 36 will cause the V-blocks to rockand align their bearing surfaceswith the peripheral surfaces of the journals 33 and 34, respectively, onthe car axle 30.

A car wheel grinding machine of the type illustrated is particularlyadapted for grinding sur-. faces of car wheels after they have beenused, to eliminate the worn surface having flats and otherirregularities due to uneven wear. The journals 33 and 34 of successivecar wheel assemblies vary in size, due to wear in use of the assemblyand also due to the amount of grinding which has heretofore taken place.It is, therefore, desirable that a suitable adjusting mechanism beprovided for adjusting the ends of the car axle assembly vertically sothat the axle of the car wheel assembly may be moved to coincide withthe axis of the rotating driving member.

The vertically adjustable supporting members 31 and 38 are provided withguide rods 39 and 46 which slide within corresponding apertures inbrackets 4| and, respectively. The guide rods 39 and 40 serve to holdthe members 31 and 381 in proper alignment. A suitable clamping deviceis provided, comprising clamping screws 43 for locking the guide rods 39and 48 in a fixed position with relation to the brackets 4| and 42,respectively, after the V-shaped bearing supports 35 and 36 have beenadjusted.

The members 31 and 38 carry a depending screw threaded member 44 whichmeshes with a rotatable nut 45 supported within the brackets 4| and 42.The threaded bushings 45 are provided at their upper ends with abevelled gear 46 which meshes with a bevelled gear 41 On 3 zontallyextending shaft 48. The outer end of the shaft 48 is provided with amanually operable hand wheel 49 by means of which the operator may raiseor lower the V-shaped supporting members 35 and 36 as desired.

In driving a pair of opposed car wheels mounted on an axle, it isnecessary that the axle be held against endwise movement, since it isnecessary to grind up to and adjacent the flange on the car wheel. Toprevent endwise movement of the axle 30, suitable anti-friction bearingmembers 58 and 5| are supported on spaced brackets 52 and 53,respectively. The bearing member 52 is provided with a readilyaccessible adjusting screw 54 which may be turned by means of a handwheel 55 and adjusted to position the car axle 30 in proper relationshipfor grinding. A screw 54 meshes with a thread extending longitudinallywithin a spindle 56 which may be clamped in adjusted position by meansof the clamping screw 57. For further details as to the construction andoperation of these anti-friction end thrust members, reference may behad to the prior U. S. patent to Norton, No. 869,194 above referred to.

In grinding work of this type, it is necessary that the work be drivenby the center portion of the axle 3|] between the car wheels 3| and 32.As

illustrated in the drawings, this driving member 4 so that, as shown inFig. 3, the car axle 30 may be readily dropped into position with itsaxis coinciding with the axis of the driving spindle 6| and gear 64. Thegear 64 is provided with a plurality of spaced brackets 66 each of whichcarries a clamping screw 61 which are equally spaced to engage the axle36 so as to transmit a rotary motion from the driving gear 64 to theaxle 36 and the car wheels 3! and 32 during the grinding operation.

A pair of spaced driving pinions l6 and H are mounted on shaft l2 andl3, respectively. The shafts 12 and I3 carry driving gears 14 and 15which mesh with a single. driving pinion 16 on a shaft H. The shaft Tlcarries a worm gear '18 which meshes with a worm 19 formed on a driveshaft 80. The outer end of the shaft 86 is provided with amulti-V-groove pulley 8| which is' ways in mesh with the driven gear 64so that when the U-shaped gap 65 turns so that the teeth of the pinion HFig. 3) run out of mesh With the driven'gear 64, the driving pinion 10is in mesh and continues a uniform rotation of the gear 64. Before theU-shaped slot 65 rotates so that the teeth of the driving pinion 16 runout of mesh, the driving pinion again meshes and continues the rotationof the driven gear 64 and the spindle 6|. This driving arrangementeliminates the necessity of providing a gear segment to close theU-shaped slot 65, thereby saving the loss of time necessitated byinserting and removing a visible gauging device whereby the wheels maybe simultaneously ground and in which if one wheel is reduced to sizeand contour, a visible indication thereof serves as a signal to stop thegrinding on one car wheel while grinding proceeds on the second wheeluntil it also is reduced to an equal size. The gauging device may com--prise a shaft 85 which is supported by brackets 86 and 81 which arefixedly mounted relative to the machine base I8. The shaft 85 serves asa support for a pair of spaced gauging devices which are arranged toengage and gauge the car wheels 3I and 32 during a grinding operation.

These gauging devices comprise feeler arms 88 and 89 which are supportedby needle bearings on the shaft 85. The feeler arms 88 and 89 'areprovided with a car wheel engaging or contacting element 98 and 9I,respectively. These contacting elements 98 and 9| may be of an extremelyhard substance such as, for example, a diamond to eliminate the elementof wear during the grinding operation. A pair of arms 92 and 93 arerespectively yoked around or straddle the hub portion of the feeler arms88 and 89, respectively. The arms 92 and 93 are clamped in adjustedposition on the shaft 85. A pair of counterbalanced or weighted arms 94and 95 are adjustably clamped to the shaft 85 adjacent to the arms 92and 93, respectively. The counterbalance arms 98 and 95 are arranged tocounterbalance the weight of the feeler arms 88 and 89 and also the arms92 and 93 so as to maintain the contact elements 98 and 9|,respectively, in operative engagement with the peripheries of the carwheels 3| and 32, respectively. Both of the gauging, devices areidentical in construction, consequently only one of these devices hasbeen illustrated in detail in Figs. 6, '7 and 8. The lower 'end of thearm 93 is a hollow box-like member I 88 which serves to enclose andadjustably support a normally open limit switch IN. Th switch I8I issupported on aplate I82 which is arranged so that it may be adjustedvertically by means of threaded bushings I83 and I84 and clamped inadjusted position by means of clamping screws I85 and I88, respectively.

An actuating plunger I81 is slidably mounted in a hub portion I88extending upwardly from the housing I88. A compression spring I89 servesnormally to hold the plunger I81 in an uppermost position so that thelimit switch IN is normally open. The electric power is supplied fromany of the well-known sources, such as is illustrated diagrammaticallyby the power lines II8. An electric light bulb II I is connected inseries with the limit switch I8I so that when the switch is closed in amanner to be hereinafter described, the light bulb III will beilluminated visibly to warn the operator that the car wheel has beenground to the desired and predetermined size. A compression spring I I2is interposed between the housing I88 and the arm 89. The spring II2surrounds a screw I I3 which is rotatably and slidably adjustable withina threaded sleeve I I4. The spring H2 is interposed between the underside of the threaded bushing H4 and a washer II5 which surrounds thescrew H3 and bears against the upper surface of a projection N8 of thehousing I88. A pair of nuts II1 on th screw II3 serve to limit theupward movement of the arm 89 under the compression of the spring I I2.

A stop screw I I8 is screw threaded through the arm 89 and is arrangedin the path of the actuating plunger I81. A lock nut H9 is provided tolock the screw I I 8 in adjusted position. 1 An identical gauging deviceis provided in connection with the feeler arm 88, the limit switch arm92, and the counterbalance arm 94. Consequentlythis structure has notbeen illustrated in detail since reference may be had to the disclosurcontained in Figs. 6, 7 and 8.

After a grinding operation has been completed, the counterbalance armsare lifted so that the gauging devices may be left in an inoperativeposition while the ground car wheel assembly is removed from the machineand a new assembly inserted there instead. A latching arm I28 ispivotally supported by a stud I2I on the counterbalance arm 95. -'Whenthe counterbalance arm 95 is raised, that is, moved in acounterclockwise direction (Fig. 6), the latch arm I28 will swing underthe influence of gravityinto position I28a with the end of the latch armI28 resting on a stop surface I22 on the base I 8.

Assuming that the car wheels 32 and 3I ar of different diameters, thebracket or arm 93 moves upwardly due to the counterbalance lever 95. Thefeeler arm 89 moves upwardly, that is, in a clockwise direction with.the bracket or arm 93 due to the spring II2 until one of the contactelements 9| or 98 carried by the feeler arms 89 and 88, respectively,contacts the largest diameter car wheel and the spring I I2 compressesand the lever or feeler arm 89 makes contact with the bracket or arm 93through the adjusting screw H8 and causes a downward movement of theswitch actuating plunger I81 to close the limit switch I8I which lightsthe electric light bulb III in front of the operator. The lighting ofthe first electric light bulb indicates the largest diameter car wheel.The grinding operation continues on the larger diameter wheel bymanipulation of the wheel feeding mechanism until the limit switch IN onthe other sizing or gauging head is closed to light the second electriclight bulb. When both of the lights are lit, a visible indication isimparted'to th operator that both of the car wheels 32 and 3 I have beenground to identical diameters. I The peripheral surface of a car wheel,as indicated, is not a true cylindrical surface but is slightly tapered,consequently it is essential that the gauging contact elements 98 and 9|engage the respective car wheels in the same relative positions, thatis, on an identical taping line around the car wheel. In order tofacilitateset ting up the gauging devices, a profile gauge "I25 is ingmachine will be'readily apparent from the foregoing disclosure. Assuminga car wheel'assembly, comprising the axle 38- together with the carwheels 8| and 32 fixedly supported thereon. is mounted in an operativeposition on the supports 35 and 38 and the end thrust members 58 and SIadjusted to take up the end thrust of the axle 30, the grindingoperation may proceed. The operator may manually feed the grindingwheels H and I2 toward the car wheels 3| and 32, respectively, by manualmanipulation of the. hand feed wheels 26 and 28, respectively. After apreliminarygrinding operation during which operation any flats on thecar Wheel peripheries are "removed, the latch arm I20 may be removedfrom positions l20a so that the counterbalance arms 94 and 95 will swingthe brackets or arms 93 and 92, respectively, in a clockwise direction(Fig. 6) similarly to swing'the feeler arms 89 and 88 in a clockwisedirection. Unless both of the car wheels 3| and, 32 are ground. to thesame diameters, one of the contact elements 9i or 90 will engage thelarger diameter car wheel and the light bulb lll or Illa will beilluminated, thus visibly indicating to the operator that the other carwheel, that is, the car wheel 3| is the smaller in diameter.

Assuming the car wheel 3! to be smaller in diameter than the car wheel32, the contact element 9| will engage the larger diameter car wheel 32and due to the counterbalance arm 95 tending to rotate the shaft 85, thespring H2 will be compressed by the swinging of the arm 93 into theposition illustrated in Fig. 6 to close the limit switch llll so as toclose the circuit to illuminate the electric light bulb H I. Thisindicates to the operator that the wheel 32 is larger in diameter thanthe car wheel 3i. The operator then stops the infeeding movement of thegrinding wheel ll andcontinues actuation of the feed wheel 28 to feedthe grinding wheel l2 to grind the car wheel 32' to a smaller size ordiameter. When the car wheel 32 has been ground to the same size ordiameter as the car wheel 3i, the contact wheel 3|, thus actuating thesecond normally open limit switch to close'a circuit and illuminate theelectric light bulb Illa, indicating to the operator that the car wheel32 has been ground to the same diameteflas the car wheel 3|, thuscompleting the grinding operation. As previously mentioned, in thegrinding of car wheels, either the new wheel or a reground wheel, thecontour of the vwheel peripheries and equal diameters of each pair ofcar wheels is essential.

While this invention, as above described, is applicable tofacilitate thegrinding of car wheels, it will be readily apparent that it is equallyapplicable in grinding other work pieces having two spaced portions tobe ground to the same or different diameters.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided by this inventionapparatus in which the various objects hereinabove set forth togetherwith many thoroughly practical advantages are successfully achieved. Asmany possible embodiments, may be made of the above invention and asmany changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is tobe understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in theaccompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

We claim:

1. In a car wheel grinding machine having a base, a rotatable supportfor a car wheel assembly including an axle and two spaced car wheelsthereon, a pair of spaced rotatable grinding wheels, an independentlongitudinal traversing mechanism for each of said wheels, anindependent wheel feeding mechanism independently to feed each of saidwheels transversely to grind the peripheries of said car wheels. and asize indicatelement 90 will engage the periphery of the car arms whichare arranged to be closed by movement thereof, an electric light bulbconnected in series with each of said switches, and a counterbalancemechanism for said arms and switches whereby the feeler arms may bemoved toward the surfaces of the car wheels being ground, said feelerarms being arranged so that one of them may be moved into operativeengagement with the car wheel after a preliminary grinding operation toindicate a difference in diameter of the wheelsso that the largerdiameter wheel may be readily reduced to the size of the smallerdiameter wheel by manipulation of the feeding mechanism.

2. In a grinding machine having a base, a rotatable work support for awork piece having two spaced portions thereon to be ground to equaldiameters, a pair of spaced rotatable grinding wheels, an independentlongitudinal traversing mechanism for each of said wheels, anindependent wheel feeding mechanism independently to feed each of saidwheels transversely, and a size indicating device comprising a rockshaft, a pair of adjustably spaced feeler arms thereon each having awork engaging contact point, a normally open limit switch associatedwith each of said feeler arms which are arranged to be closed bymovement thereof, an electric light bulb connected in series with eachof said switches, and a counterbalance mechanism for said arms andswitches whereby the feeler arms may be moved and maintained inoperative engagement with the work piece, said feeler arms beingarranged so that they may be moved into operative engagement with thework surfaces after a preliminary grinding operation to indicate adifference in diameter of the work portions so that the large diameterportion may be readily reduced to size by manipulation of the feedingmechanism.

3. In a car wheel grinding machine having a base, a rotatable worksupport for a car wheel assembly including an axle and two spaced carwheels thereon, a pair of spaced rotatable grinding wheels, anindependent longitudinal traversing mechanism for each of said wheels,an independent wheel feeding mechanism independently to feed each ofsaid wheels transversely to produce a grinding operation, a sizeindicating device therefor including a pair of adjustably spaced feelerswhich are movable toward and from the peripheries of said spaced carwheels, a visible indicator associated with each of said feelers, one ofsaid indicators being arranged visibly to indicate the larger diametercar wheel after a preliminary grinding operation, the other of saidindicators being arranged visibly to indicate when the larger diametercar wheel has been ground to the diameter of the smaller, and means tomaintain said size indicating device in an inoperative position during apreliminary grinding operation.

4. In a car wheel grinding machine having a base, a rotatable worksupport for a car'wheel assembly including an axle and two spaced carwheels thereon, a pair of spaced rotatable grinding wheels, anindependent longitudinal traversing mechanism for each of said wheels,an independent wheel feeding mechanism independently to feed each ofsaid wheels transversely to produce a grinding operation, a sizeindicating device therefor including a pair of adjustably with a workpiece.-

,latch to maintain said size indicating device in an inoperativeposition during a preliminary grinding operation.

5. In a car wheel grinding machine having a base, a rotatable worksupport for a car wheel assembly including an axle and two spaced carwheels thereon, a pair of spaced rotatable grinding wheels, anindependent longitudinally traversing mechanism for each of said wheels,an independent wheel feeding mechanism independently to feed each ofsaid wheels transversely, and a size indicating device thereforincluding a rock shaft supported in brackets on the machine base,

an arm adJustably clamped to said shaft, a housing within said arm, anormally open limit switch within said housing, an electric light bulbconnected in series with said switch visible to indicate the size of acar wheel, a feeler arm pivotally mounted on said shaft having a workengaging contact element, an adiustably mounted stop screw on saidfeeler arm which is arranged to actuate said switch, a compressionspring nor- 6. In a car wheel grinding machine having a base, arotatable work support for a car wheel assembly including an axle andtwo spaced car wheels thereon, a pair of spaced rotatable grindingwheels, an independent longitudinally traversing mechanism for each ofsaid wheels, an independent wheel feeding mechanism independently tofeed each of said wheels transversely, and a size indicating devicetherefor including a rock shaft supported in brackets on the machinebase, a pair of spaced arms adiustably clamped on said, shaft, ahousingwithin each of said arms, a normally open limit switch within each ofsaid housings, an electric light bulb con-'- nected in series with eachof said switches visibly to indicate the relative size of said carwheels,

. a pair of spaced feeler arms pivotally mounted on said shaft eachhaving a work engaging contact element, an adjustably mounted'stop oneach mally to hold said am and feeler arm apart,

and a counterbalance arm adiustablysupported on said rock shaft tocounterbalance said arms to move said feeler arm into operative contactof said feeler arms which are arranged to actuate said switches, acompression spring normally tohold said arms and feeler arms apart, anda counterbalance arm adjustably supported on said .rock shaft tocounterbalance said arms, said size indicating device being arranged sothat one of said electric light bulbs is illuminated after a preliminarygrinding operation to indicate the larger diameter car wheel, the otherof said elecwheel has been ground to the same diameter as i the smallercar wheel,

CARL G. FLYGARE.

:IIH' 1H A, SEVEN.

